Morro Bay, Carpinteria or Port Hueneme (Oxnard, Santa Barbara: relocating, apartments, condos)

[cre8]

Originally Posted by Roma

Cre8, Ah, I lived there. Did you live in Hollywood Beach? Where in Oxnard do you live?? I moved 2 years ago. Go to the schools web site and click on the areas they serve and you will see what I mean.

Yes, I lived on the west CI harbor area for a number of years. More recently I lived just outside of PH in Oxnard. I'm still in the area and have been here since the mid 80s.

Maybe something has changed with HB school, but a few years ago we tried to get a child in there and were told that we needed to be in PH 93041 or in the County part of the beach areas. The areas you mentioned. But, again, this was a number of years ago. It may have changed.

[Roma]

Cre8, My zip code was 93035 for Hollywood Beach.

[Roma]

I loved living at the beach. We saved many a dolphins, seals, little baby lobsters, sand dollars, seagulls and snowy plovers just to name a few. We miss it everyday. We saw whales while eating dinner in our house looking out the window. Magical to say the least. So I fully understand why the OP wants to live at the beach. My only concern is alot of areas in Oxnard and Pt. Hueneme are unsafe and that is a fact and a sad fact but a fact. A single female should be very wary of this area and look into it very good before deciding where to live. That is why I asked her where in this area she is looking at.

[cre8]

Originally Posted by Roma

Cre8, My zip code was 93035 for Hollywood Beach.

I might have been your neighbor back in the 90s. If you haven't been back to the area recently, you would be amazed at the changes all over Oxnard, from downtown (beautiful now) to the CI Harbor and the beach, to north Oxnard. The area is an emerging pearl. The new city council (as of 2004) is deeply committed to dealing with some of the city's problems that were largely ignored in the past. Port Hueneme is equally onboard with Oxnard in fixing the bad stuff of the area.

[Roma]

I heard all about the new and exciting things going on there. I am so glad that they are addressing the issues there. It is about time. We still have friends in both Hollywood Beach and Oxnard Shores. I am so glad they are doing this and I heard there is a new grocery store on the corner of Wooley and Victoria. We would be moving back there if we could afford oceanfront again. But we can't so we are looking into the OC area for oceanview. Real Estate is crazy, what used to buy us oceanfront in 2001 barely will get us a ocean view in 2007. Please visit Hollywood Beach for me and if you see any critters in need please help them. Peace.

[cre8]

Originally Posted by Roma

Please visit Hollywood Beach for me and if you see a critter in need please help them. Peace.

Consider it done. There is a big effort to help the Snowy Plover along the dunes.

[Roma]

Thank You Cre8, Yes we were part of that effort with Ziv. I actually got to see 3 Snowy Plovers eggs hatch. I really do miss it there. I have a tear in my eye as I type this. Take Care!

[ExNYC]

I'd stay away from PH. Period. It may be on an uptick but until it's established as such, it is NOT safe for a single female.

Morro Bay is lovely and quiet; touristy in the summer. Carpinteria will be price-eeee since it's in Santa Barbara, but lovely. Also quiet and fairly touristy but my fave of the three. If I win the lottery I'll be back there someday...

[greatbasinguide]

Although I hate to bring more people in, single females are ok I guess, there is not comparison between Morro Bay and the other two. Just visit, walk the docks on a foggy morning, hike Montana De Oro, There is just no comparison, Morro Bay is a land and time unto itself.

[cinbad68]

Hello Everyone! Thank you all for your valuable insight. Very enlightening--especially re: Port Hueneme. I was a little surprised to hear about the gang issues there. I was initially drawn to PH because it is right on the beach. I'm looking to find a very basic studio/1bedroom within walking distance to beach. Any suggestions? Also I knew of the CB connection as I'm ex-Navy. I was wondering if this might put me at an advantage for finding base-related employment or is preference given to spouses of active duty personnel? I'm wondering just how bad gangs can be there. I'm in suburban Chicagoland now, but used to live in the city in Rogers Park (somewhat of a bad rep). If indeed PH does have significant problem, are there any neighborhoods in particular I should avoid? It would be just me (and cat) as I have no children. I'm a quiet person, but am looking for a community where I could get involved in some interesting causes(perhaps the sealife preservation I've heard spoken of or maybe politics?). Basically a sense of community where I could become a part of things. Besides the base and port, are there any other opportunities for work in accounting or clerical or is commuting to surrounding areas almost a given?

I like the "live and let live" vibe I've heard about for Morro Bay--that's exactly what I'm looking for. Sounds delightful/homey. Surprisingly, I've found rents advertised in $700-750 range for studios. Does this sound feasible? Anyone have experiences apartment renting in MB? My main concern is employment. Is it dominated by tourism or are there other industries? Do you think it would be improbable to find admin/accounting work there? I'm also open to ag work (in Los Osos perhaps?) I wonder do most people who live in MB commute to say, Atascadero or Arroyo Grande for work? I've heard that SLO has very few jobs! Is this wrong?

Carpinteria sounds nice too, but I'm having a hard time finding job/apartment postings there altogether. Not sure how working in SB would be. I'm lower middle class. Does any similar person have experiences working in Santa Barbara? How were you treated? I gather Goleta is more working class.

Sorry for the long post, but am trying to give more specifics. Please feel free to post additional thoughts/observations. They are very helpful. Thanks Again!